Weird Starter Problem

[modestobulldog]

Tonight when I started my 99 Corolla the starter kept spinning with the motor running. I drove the car from the driveway to the garage, turned off the motor and the starter kept spinning. I turned the ignition on, with the starter spinning and the motor restarted. When I turned off the motor for the second time, the motor did as well.

Do I need a rebuilt starter / solenoid? Should I rebuild the old starter? If so, what parts? Solenoid? Brushes? Bearings?

Your help is appreciated.

[94_Rolla_Guy]

DONT let it spin continueously you WILL burn the starter out...

All that happened is the soleinoid welded its self togeather, long as the starter motor itself is OK just take it to a auto electric place and either have them do it or buy the parts to do it yourself , its not very hard to do....

heres the link http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/t27312.html

[modestobulldog]

Thanks Rolla Guy!! I just replaced the solenoid contacts and it works fine.

Lessons learned (not in Haynes Manual):

1. Haynes manual is wrong when it says starter can not be rebuilt. Per Rolla guy's link, the problem nearly always is the solenoid contacts. It is easy to rebuild and cheap. Just follow the color picture instructions in Rolla Guy's link.

2. On my 99 Corolla, there are two wires that need to be disconnected before removal, the larger one has a long straight plastic end with "1520" stamped on it. just lightly pull on the outer edge and part of the plastic will flip back and expose the terminal nut holding the wire on.

3. The starter itself is held on by two bolts, both 14MM. One will be readily apparent on the starter / solenoid side at the bottom. The one is on the opposite side of the transmission. I accessed it by removing my battery and lossening via a breaker bar connected to 12" extension and 14MM socket.

4. The only way I could figure out how to remove starter and solenoid was by removing the lower radiator hose. Oh well, now I have new coolant. Be sure to purchase a good quality red coolant such as Havoline Extended Life Collant (5years / 150,000 miles). Yellow-green coolants such as Prestone have silicates and are a no-no in later model Toyota's.

Final cost:

Solenoid contacts $13.64, Coolant $12.87

[diver9000]

Thats good info. Where did you get your solenoid contacts?

[modestobulldog]

I got mine at the local Auto - Electric shop. Look under the yellow pages under Auto - Electric. There were several to choose from in my city. I selected the closest one. In talking to him, it sounds like they are a very common part and most shops should have them.

[rerod]

My 99 Corolla just did the same thing. Except it never stopped spinning until I disconnected the battery!

Same problem and fix?

Thanks

[modestobulldog]

Since I was successful at the rebuild of my 99 Corolla starter, for preventative measure, I will rebuild my 2001 Chevy Prizm starter motor. It has 160,000 miles on it.

[joeyicu]

ya they tell you it cant be rebuilt because they want you to go out and buy new parts

its the newest horrible trend, i liked when stuff could be rebuilt, but most starter electrical shops will do a starter and/or alternators that are suposedly "non rebuildable"

but at the same time, if that was the case, how funny is it you can still purchased remanufactured parts that are claimed to be unrebuildable, o isnt that the same thing?

hmm...

[cheesep]

• All the stuff below is good advice.
• I did mine last month.
• I bought the contacts from the dealer.
• I was able to remove the transmission side bolt without removing the battery.
• I was able to wiggle the starter out through the bottom without removing the rad hose.
• Admittedly removing the battery and rad hose would have made the job less challenging!